Numbers 16

Here in this chapter we read of a rebellion coming from two groups, all combining to rebel against Moses and Aaron. One group was composed of 250 leaders in Israel led by Korah, another group was composed of Abiram, Dathan and company.

The group led by Korah were ambitious to serve as priests with Aaron in the tabernacle. The group composed of Abriam, Dathan and company, on the other hand, were dissatisfied and envious with the leadership of Moses.

To address the rebellion, Moses invited both groups. The group led by Korah came but the company of Abiram and Dathan refused. Moses told Korah's group to come the following day and bring with them a censer with fire and incense including Aaron. Actually, only Aaron and his sons were authorized by God to do this. The whole thing will be a demonstration as to who has the approval of the Lord to serve in the tabernacle as priests.

And so the following day, Korah, the 250 prominent Israelite men, accompanied and supported by the congregation set themselves against Moses and Aaron. There, at the doorway of the tabernacle, they all assembled.

The Lord could have consume the congregation with His fire but Moses and Aaron interceded. The Lord then told Moses to tell the congregation to distance themselves from the dwelling places of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and company. Then the ground opened itself up and swallowed them all, including their possessions, and then the ground closed on them.

Then fire came from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who arrogated to themselves the priesthood. They wanted to offer fire to the Lord in the tabernacle but God consumed them with His fire. All their censers were hammered for the plating of the altar to serve as a reminder to the people not to follow their example.

The following day, the congregation murmured and assembled against Moses and Aaron saying that they caused the death of the Lord's people. A plague from the Lord broke out but Moses and Aaron intervened. Aaron took a censer, placed on it incense and fire from the altar and brought it quickly to the congregation to atone them. "He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked." 14,700 people died from the plague.

All of this was to demonstrate again the fact that only Aaron and his sons were authorized to offer the censer offerings to the Lord.